Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

In this key position, you will protect and preserve water quality, you will support and maintain wastewater infrastructure projects at cities and communities throughout southwestern Washington.
As part of a team of environmental engineers and scientists, you will:
 

• Ensure critical infrastructure is designed properly. Under the guidance of experienced, licensed engineers, review general sewer plans, facility plans and engineering reports, plans and specifications for construction, operations manuals, and other engineering documents to ensure they meet state requirements.
• Help dischargers understand and meet state water quality rules and laws, and better manage operation of their facilities.
• Become a reliable and trusted point of contact for the owners and operators of wastewater treatment and reuse facilities, as well as their consultants and contractors.
• Develop permit documents that explain requirements clearly and provide background and rationale for those requirements.
• Work together with operators and other public works staff to ensure protection of Washington’s natural resources.

The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington's waters to support healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures state waters can support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.     

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. This position is not currently required to work in the office on a regular basis. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. Looking ahead, Ecology has recently updated the agency policies on telework and flexible and compressed work schedules. Applicants with questions about position location options, telework, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” 

About the Department of Ecology

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

 

Duties

What makes this role unique? 

This is your chance to be part of a community dedicated to responsible development and thoughtful management of critical wastewater and reclaimed water infrastructure by serving as one of the state’s engineers overseeing these facilities.
 
As you learn and grow in this position, you will be able to use your experience toward gaining your Professional Engineering license.
 
 In addition to your involvement with planning, design, and construction, you’ll also permit operation of these facilities, from permit issuance through implementation and oversight in the field. You will serve as the point of contact for the Water Quality Program and be the face of the agency, building trust and confidence with the regulated community through honest, reliable, and consistent interactions over time. You’ll routinely collaborate with facility owners and operators on a variety of engineering concerns and compliance questions, and be our go-to representative for making sure that all parties understand the agency’s expectations for wastewater management and reuse in Washington state.
 
 This is a great opportunity to:

• Learn from, work with, and become part of an experienced team of environmental regulatory professionals – both inside and outside of Ecology.
• Gain experience toward your Professional Engineer license.

What you will do: 

• Support planning, design and construction of wastewater and reclaimed water systems in compliance with state requirements and good engineering practices.
• Provide regulatory oversight of operations at wastewater treatment and reuse facilities using diverse treatment processes and creative ways to manage the discharge of treated effluent or one of the many potential uses of reclaimed water.
• Provide timely reviews of permit applications and responses to permit submittals.
• Draft conditions, limits, and other permit requirements as part of the issuance process, and provide ongoing oversight of individual permits for compliance with water quality standards.
• Provide facility inspections and technical assistance with regulatory issues and questions from communities and industries within the region.
• Assist in improving unit business processes – collaborate with other Ecology staff to provide outstanding service to our regulated community, the public, and Tribes.
• Help members of the public understand permits and other regulatory requirements around wastewater and reclaimed water facilities, as well as Ecology’s role as an oversight agency.

Qualifications

This position is an In Training opportunity: The goal class for this position is Environmental Engineer 2. We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the College Career Graduate, Environmental Engineer 1 (EE1) and Environmental Engineer 2 (EE2) levels. If the finalist meets the requirements at the College Career Graduate or EE1 level, they will be hired at that level and will be placed in a training program to become an EE2 within a specified period of time.

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

At the College Career Graduate level: Salary Range 49: ($4,013-$5,399 Monthly) 
An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields:  sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.

 
At the Environmental Engineer 1 level: Salary Range 55: ($4,656-$6,260 Monthly)

Option 1:

An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields:  sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
 
AND
 
One year of environmental engineering experience.

Option 2:

A Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields:  sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
 
 
At the Environmental Engineer 2 level: Salary Range 61: ($5,399-$7,262 Monthly) 
Option 1:

An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields:  sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
 
AND
 
Two years of environmental engineering experience.

Option 2:

A Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields:  sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
 
AND
 
One year of experience in environmental engineering.
 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess and maintain a valid State's driver's license. 

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• Experience in wastewater treatment plant design and operations, including preparing general sewer plans, facility plans, and contract documents (plans and specifications) for municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
• Experience or training in modeling including wastewater engineering and/or mixing zone analysis.
• Experience applying negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience communicating complex technical issues to the public.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• Three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work. Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:
 
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Steve Ogle at: Steven.Ogle@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Steve to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This position has an in-training component. If starting at the College Career Graduate or Environmental Engineer 1 levels, this position is not covered by a bargaining unit. If starting at the Environmental Engineer 2 level, it is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.   

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.